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Alexei I of Russia

Moscow, 20 Mar 1629 – Moscow, 8 Feb 1676

12 facts3 sources

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About Alexei I

Alexei I of Russia: Tsar of a Troubled Reign

AI-assisted · edited

The collection records Alexei Mikhailovich, also known as Alexis, as born in Moscow in 1629, although the precise date is disputed. His parents were Michael I of Russia and Eudoxia Streshneva. 123456

Alexei was Tsar of Russia from 1645 to 1676 and held the title Prince of Moscow. His reign was marked by wars with Poland and Sweden, an internal schism in the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Cossack revolt of Stenka Razin. 784

The collection records his death in Moscow in 1676, with the precise date disputed between 8 and 9 February. These uncertain dates, together with the conflicting birth dates, identify areas where further archival verification is needed. 910123

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born20 Mar 1629, Moscowor 29 Mar 1629 · 27 Mar 1629Records disagree1 source
  • TitlePrince of Moscow, 1645–1676not verified1 source
  • Died8 Feb 1676, Moscowor 9 Feb 1676Records disagree1 source
  • FatherMichael I of Russianot verified1 source
  • MotherEudoxia Streshnevanot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 20 Mar 1629

    Born in Moscow

  2. 1645–1676

    Prince of Moscow

  3. 1648–1674

    15 children are born

  4. 8 Feb 1676

    Dies in Moscow, aged 46

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partners

Children · 15

During his lifetime

He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Moscow.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1620s · Alexei I is born in Moscow

What people wore

The belt as a status symbol

It was considered shameful to appear in public without a belt, as the belt served as a clear indicator of a person's social status.

Daily life

The multipurpose masonry stove

The massive masonry stove, occupying nearly a quarter of the home, was used for heating, cooking, and as a primary sleeping area. It was so efficient that it could keep food hot from the morning until lunch.

Work

Daily Wages for Urban Workers

Skilled urban craftsmen, such as carpenters, shoemakers, and blacksmiths, commonly earned a daily wage of 4 to 5 kopecks. Even unskilled laborers, known as yaryzhki, earned 3 kopecks per day, a rate that remained stable throughout the reign of Michael Feodorovich.

Music

Destruction of Forbidden Musical Instruments

In 1636 and 1648, authorities confiscated and publicly burned carts filled with folk instruments like domras, bagpipes, and flutes to suppress performances. Owners found with these forbidden instruments faced severe punishment, including flogging and exile.

At the table

Common beverages: Kvass and beer

Ordinary Russians relied on kvass, a fermented beverage made from grain, and beer as their everyday drinks. Tea was first introduced as a rare medicinal gift for the Tsar in 1638 and was not a common household drink for ordinary people.

Getting around

Carrying Supplies for Long Journeys

Because inns were rare, travelers were advised to carry essential supplies including an axe, fire-starting equipment, a cooking pot, and food for the entire duration of the journey. In the 16th and 17th centuries, many travelers were forced to camp under the open sky along riverbanks.

What it cost

Prices for clothes and livestock

While a sheep cost 20 kopecks, a pair of boots cost about 50 kopecks, which represented more than a month's salary for an ordinary worker.